Mowing-machine.



C. PEARSON.

MOWING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED IAN.27. 1913.

' Patented Sept. 18, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

C. PEARSON.

mowme MACHINE.

. APPLICATION FII ED JMLZT. I913. 1,240,31,

Patented Sept. 18, 1917.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

C. PEARSON.

MOWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED IAN-27. 1913.

Patented Sept 18, 1917.

Law 1 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

III III n w mum STATES UNITE rArnN'r orrios.

CHARLES PEARSON, OF oHIo'A-Go, ILLINoIs, AssI'GNon 'ro INTERNATIONAL HARvEs'rEn oOMP'ANY OF NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

MOWING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 18, 191.7.

Application filed January 27, 191-3. Serial No. 744,537.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1-, CHARLES PnARsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois have invented certain new and" useful Improvements in Mow-ingMachines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to mowing machines.

It has among its objects to provide improved means whereby the finger bar may be raised from a? horizontal to an absolute vertical" position, or lowered from its vertical to its horizontal position as desired, the coupling frame of the mower being raised and lowered therewith and being so controlled by the raising and lowering means, and without the necessity of separate holding means therefor, that premature lowering of the cou 'aling frame prior to the time that the bar reaches an operative angle with respect to the ground. is effectually prevented. A further Object of my invention is to provide improved operative connections between the adjusting lever and the finger bar and improved means for locking and unlocking the adjusting lever. I attain these objects by an improved construction of finger bar adjiis'ting mechanism and improved controlling mechanism; all combined and coiiperating as" hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings 1 have, for

purposes of illustration, shown one embodiment which my practice.

In these drawings:

Figure 1 represents a top plan View of part of mowing machine having my invention forming a part thereof;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1 v

Fig. 3' is a detached part of Fig. l'and designed to illustrate the construction and operation of a part of the lifting le'ver mecl'ianism";

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the finger bar in a' vertical position; v Fig. 5 represents a detail part of the link connection between the lifting lever and the fii'iger bar;

Fig. 6-isa side elevatiorr of Fig. ,5;

Fig. 7-isa1v'ert'ioal elevation of a swingii'rg fulCfiini-lforihifig part of the finger bar controlling mechanism;

Fig." 8 is a" sectional side" elevatioinof Fig. 7

invention may assume in Fig. 9 is a detached part of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale and designed to illustrate the operation of the hand and foot lever mechanism;

Fig. 10 represents a front elevation, partly in section, of part of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a. top plan view of a toothed sector forming part of the finger bar lifting mechanism F ig 12 is'a side elevation of the toothed sector as shown in Fig. 11 and designed to cooperate with the lifting lever mechanism;

Fig. 13 is-a top plan view of a detent tripping arm forming part of the finger bar controlling mechanism; I

Fig. 1 1 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale of part of the hand lever mechanism; and

15', is a side elevation of Fig. 13.

The same reference numerals designate like partsthroughout the several views.

'1 represents'the main frame of a mowing machine; 2 a draft tongue secured thereto, 3 a coupling bar having a coupling yoke 1 journaled upon the grainward end thereof and 5a shoe and finger bar pivotally con nec'ted with the yoke in a manner permitting the grainward end thereof to swing to a vertical position. 6 represents a toothed sector secured to the main frame of the machine and provided with a laterally projectin'g stem 7 upon which is pivotally mounted a hand lever 8 and a foot lever 9, the hand lever being provided with a spring-pressed sliding detent 10 adapted to engage with the toothed sector 6. 11 represents an arm having one end thereof pivotally mounted upon the stem 7 and provided with a slotted portic-n adapted to receive the front end of the foot lever 9, and 12 represents an adjusting screw carried by said arm and adapted to engage with the front end of the foot lever that extends in front of the aXis thereof. 13' represents a freely swinging block pivotally mounted upon the arm 11 andprovided with a laterally projecting lip portion 14 that norma'lly engages with the lower end of the toothed sector. 15 represents an ear member integral with the yoke 4;, and 16 a swinging link; preferably of the bifurcated type, having the lower end thereof connected with said ear member by means of apivot pin 17 arranged at right angles with the line of draft of the m'achinei 18 represents a ful-l cruin'o'r gagging member pivotally connected ios ysuch a manner as to engage with one ofthe angular bearing surfaces 19 when the finger bar is raised to a vertical position, as shown in Fig. 4, the body of the link being adapted to engage with the opposite bearing surface when the finger bar is in a horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 3. 22 represents a link having one end thereof pivotally connected with the finger bar shoe, the shoe being provided with a shoulder portion 23 that engages with the body of the link during a part of its operation. The opposite end of the link 22 is pivotally connected with one .end of a link 24:, and the opposite end of link 24 is pivotally connected with one end of a gagging link 25, the opposite end of wlnch is pi'votally connected with the fulcrum or gagging member 18 coaXially with the link 21. When the finger bar is in a horizontal position the links 21 and 25 are in engagement with the angular bearing surfaces 19 of the fulcrum member 18 and remain in engagement therewith until the finger bar is raised to a vertical position, the arrangement of the associated parts of the link'mecha nism being such as to produce a differential leverage'during the operative action thereof in swinging the finger bar to a vertical position.

To swing the finger oar to a vertical position the operator first presses downward upon the foot lever 9, thereby rocking the arm 11 about the axis thereof to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 9. The hand lever is then drawn rearward and the toe' portion 26 thereof engages with the rear curved end of the swinging block 13 and thereby rocks the arm 11 independent of the foot lever to the full line position shown in Fig. 4; When the finger bar is in a vertical position the detent 10 engages with one of the rear notches'27 of the toothed sector in a manner to secure the lever in its adjusted position. To release the detent there is pro.- vi'ded a swinging bell crank lever 28 pivotally mounted upon the toothed sector mem-- her and having one arm adapted to engage with the detent and another arm engaging with the foot lever whereby an initial clownward movement of the foot lever rocks the member 28 against the end of the detent in a manner to cause a disengagement thereof from the toothed sector and permit the hand lever to swing forward. It is thus seen that in raising the bar to vertical position the op- "erator, by first depressing the foot lever 9,

raises the bar into the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3, and then by movement of the hand lever 8, lifts the bar. to thevertical position shown in Fig. 1,.the detent mechanism 10 automatically locking the bar in that position. l/Vhen it is desired to lower the bar this detent mechanism is released by depressing the foot lever 9 from the dotted line position shown in Fig. 9 to the full line position shown therein, the bell crank 28 being operated by this movement to throw out the latch of the detent, as hereinabove described. The construction shown is also adapted to use as a plain lift mower, in whichcase the operator useseither the foot lever 9 as above described or the hand lever 8. .When the hand leveris used for this purpose, its toe portion-26 kicks the swinging block 13 out of its path and engages with the collar thereof rather than with the curved 1 rear end of the latter, and thereby lifts the arm 11 untilthe finger bar is in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, in which position, obviously, the detent mechanism will also act to lock the lever and bar.

In the operation ofmy improved construction the finger bar may be raised to an absolute vertical position, as shown in'Fig. 4:, and lowered therefrom upon movement of the operating lever 8. When in. its vertical position it is to be noted that the weight of the coupling. frame and bar is supported on the pivot of the member 18 on the member 16, the toe on the link 21-then acting to hold the parts in the position shown in Fig. 4, irrespective'of the weight of, the finger bar, the holding-force acting in a line drawn beween thepivot of the member 1:8 mentioned and thepivot of the link 20 on the arm 11. Obviously, also, by my improved construction, with'the parts in this position, the finger bar will be held against rocking by the engagement of the link 25 with the gagging member 18. As the hand lever 8 is turned about its pivot to lower the bar, however, the link connections 19 and 21 are flexed. During the firststages of the movement, the finger bar, due to its connection to the member 8 and its pivot on the stubbleward side of its connection to the link 22, is given an outward impetus so that its links may'unfold and the bar may assume an operative angle with respect to the ground. This, it will be noted, occurs prior to any material lowering of the coupling frame, the lowering of the latter being retarded and the member 18 being held up by its operative connections during the lowering movement of the bar,'as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, until the bar reaches the well knownoperative angle with respect to the ground.

It is to be noted that in this construction the initial movement of the bar in raising tease-i the latter to vertical position is brought about by the use. of the foot leverand that the bar iscarried from the .dotted line position, shown in Fig. 3, to the vertical or full line position, shown in Fig. 4, by movement of thehand lever, the latter automatically cooperating with the swinging block in imparting a further upward movement to the barthrough the improved link connections betweenthe end of the arm 11 and the bar. Itis further to be noted that after the detent is released as the bar is lowered from its up or vertical position, the operator is able, if desired, to control the downward move ment of the same through the foot leverand the hand lever, the foot lever through its connection with the pin 12 tending to pre vent a toorapid movement of the bar duringthe last stages of its movement, while the hand lever, through its toe portion 26 and its cooperation with the block 13, has a similar function throughout the movement of the bar. Attentionlis further dirooted to the fact that with the mechanism shown it is unnecessary for the operator, iii raising or lowering the bar, to manipulate any detent mechanism, the detent mechanism being automatic in its operation and the operator being only required. to exert a pull on the lever.

lVhile I have in this application described one form which my invention may assume in practice, it is, of course, to be understood that the formshown herein is chosen for purposes of illustration and that the invention maybe embodied in other forms without departing from its spirit,

WVhat I claim ,as being my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a mowing machine, a machine frame,

acoupling frame, a finger bar, an operating member,-and means including a-single flexible connection between said operating memher, said coupling frame and said finger bar whereby uponmovement of said operating member said couplingframe may be raised and said bar moved independently thereof to absolute vertical position and back to an operative angle with respect to the ground prior to the lowering of said coupling frame;

2.. In combination, a frame, a coupling frame thereon, afinger bar p voted to said coupling frame, an operating member on said frame, and means including single flexible connection between said operating member, said coupling frame and a point at the grassward side of said finger bar pivot whereby, upon movement of'said member in one direction, said coupling frame may be raised and said bar moved independently pivot..

3. In a mowing machine, a frame, an operating lever thereon, a coupling frame operatively connected to said frame, a finger bar pivotally connected to said coupling frame, a agging member pivoted on said coupling frame, and link connections pivotally connected between said lever and said gagging member and saidgagging member and said finger bar whereby upon movement of said lever the bar may be raised to an absolute vertical position and lowered therefrom.

at. In a mowing machine, a machine frame, a movable operating member thereon, a coupling frame connected to said machine frame, a finger bar connected to said coupling frame, and means including operative connections between said elements whereby upon movement of said operating member in one direction said coupling frame and bar may be raised and said bar may be subsequently raised independently to an absolute vertical position and upon a reverse movement of said operating member said bar may be lowered to an operative angle relative to the ground prior to the lowering of said coupling frame.

5. In a mowing machine, a machine frame, an opera ting lever thereon, a coupling frame operatively connected to said machine frame, a finger bar pivotally connected to said coupling frame, a gagging member pivotally mounted on said coupling frame, a cooperating link pivotally connected to said gagging member and extending therefrom toward said bar, a plurality of pivotally connected links flexibly connecting said gagging link to said finger bar, and operative connections between said operating lever and said gagging member whereby the latter may beswung about its pivot.

6.--In a mowing machine, a machine frame,

an operating lever thereon, a coupling frame pivoted to said machine frame, a finger bar pivoted to said coupling frame, a gagging member pivoted on. said coupling frame, a cooperating gagging link pivotedto said gagging member and extending therefrom toward said bar, a plurality ofcooperating pivotally connected links of unequal length pivoted to said a bar and normally having their pivotal connections disposed at one side of a line between their pivots to said gagging link and finger bar, and operative connections between'said operating lev r and said gagging member. I

7. in a mowing machine, a machine frame, a coupling frame operatively connected thereto, a finger bar pivotally connected to said coupling frame, a gagging member pivframe, linkconnections 'pivoted'tosaid gagging'member and finger bar and connecting SfilCl elements, and means between said lever on ing link and said finger and gagging member operative when the former is moved about its pivot for raising the pivot of said link connections to said gagging member above the pivot of the latter and bringing in. substantial alinement all of the pivots of a plurality of the links'in said link connections.

8. In a mowing machine, a machine frame, an operating lever thereon, a coupling frame operatively connected tosaid machine frame, a finger bar pivota ly connected tosaid coupling frame, a gagging member pivotally connected to, said coupling frame, acoopei ating gagging link pivoted to said gagging member and extending therefrom toward said bar, a plurality ofcooperating pivotally connected links pivoted to said gagging link andsaid finger bar, and means controlled by said lever for depressing said gagging member and the pivotal connection of said cooperating links. I

9. In a mowing machine, a machine frame, a coupling framcpivoted thereon, a finger bar pivoted to said coupling frame, an operating leverpivoted tosaid machine frame, an upstanding member pivoted to said coupling frame and movable thereon in a fore and aft direction, a transversely disposed gagging member pivoted on said member and movable in a plane at right angles to the axis thereof, and flexible connections between said gagging member and said operating lever and between said gagging memher and said finger bar. 1 a

10. In a mowing machine, a 1 machine frame, a rising and falling coupling frame thereon, a finger bar pivoted on said coupling frame, a bifurcated member pivoted to said coupling frame and movable thereon in a fore and aft direction, a transversely disposed gagging member pivoted to said member and swinging beneath its pivot between the arms thereof, a fieXible connectl OIl' between one end of said gagging member and said operating lever, and a flexible connection between the opposite end of said gagging member and said finger bar.

11..In a mowing machine, a frame, a

coupling frame pivotally connected thereto,

a finger bar pivotally connected. to said coupling frame, a llftmg lever, carried on said frame, operative connections between said lever and bar, detent mechanism on said lever and engageable with said frame for locking said lever in a predetermined position, a second lifting lever cooperating v with said first mentioned lever, and means for automatically releasing said detent mechanism on operation of said cooperatinglever. H I 1 12. In a mowing machine, a frame, a coupling frame pivotally connected thereto, a finger 'barpivotally connected to said coupling frame, alifting lever carried on said frame, operative connections between said after a predetermined lever and bar, a notched sector carried on said frame, detent mechanism on said lever automatically vengageable with said sector as said lever is moved, andifoot operated mechanism mounted on said first mentioned frame for releasing said detent mechanism from said sector. a

13.,In a mowing machine, a .frame, a coupling frame pivotally connected thereto, a finger bar pivotally connectedto said coupling frame, a lifting lever carried on said frame, operative connections between said lever and bar, a notched'sector on-said frame, automatically acting detent mecha nism on said lever engageable with said sector,'a second lifting lever cooperating with said first mentioned lever, and means for automatically releasing said detent said frame and actuated by said last mentioned lifting lever. v i

15. Ina mower, a frame, a coupling frame pivotally connected thereto, a finger bar pivotally. mounted on said coupling frame, a lifting lever pivotally mounted on said frame, an arm pivotally mounted on said frame and operatively I connected to said lifting 1 lever, operative connections Joetween said arm and bar,-a swinging block pivotally mounted on said arm and movable therewith when the latter is raised by said lifting lever, and a supplementalliftioc ing lever pivoted on said frameand engaging the lower end of-saidswinging block movement of sa d first'mentioned lever. .7

16. In a mowmgmachme, a frame, a cou pling frame pivotally mounted thereon, a

finger bar pivotally mounted on said con pling frame, anarm pivotally mounted on said frame, operative connectionsbetween one end of said arm and said finger bar, a swinging block pivotally mounted onjsaid arm'havinga depending curved portion, a foot lever pivoted on said frame andoperatively connected to said arm, and a hand lever pivoted on said frameand operable after a predetermined movement of said foot vlever having means engageable with the curved portion of said block. 7 7

17. In a mowing machine, a frame, a cou pling. frame pivotally mounted thereon, a

v finger bar pivotally mounted on said-con pling frame, a lifting lever pivotallyportion of said block, detent mechanism for mounted on said frame, an arm pivotally mounted on said frame, operative connections between said armand said finger bar, a block pivoted on said arm having a hub portion and a depending swinging body portion, means movable with said lifting lever engageable with the hub of said block or with the dependingbody portion thereof,

and cooperating lifting mechanism for rais ing the body portion of said block into position to be thus engaged.

' 18. In a mowing machine, a frame, acoupling frame pivotally mounted thereon, a

finger bar pivotally mounted on said coupling frame, an arm pivotally mounted on said frame, operative connections between one end of said arm and said finger bar, a swinging block pivotally mounted on said arm having a depending curved portion, a

finger bar pivotally mounted on said con pling frame, an arm pivotally mounted on said frame, operative connections between one end of said arm and said finger bar, a swinging block pivotally mounted on said arm having a depending curved portion", a

foot lever pivoted on said frame and 0pera'-' tively connected to said arm, a hand lever pivoted on said frame and operable after a predetermined movement of said foot lever having means engageable with the curved automatically locking said hand lever in a predetermined 'POSllLlOIl of ad ustment, and a bell crank pivoted to said frame havlng one arm engageable with said foot lever and the other engageable with the latch of said detent mechanism.

20. A mowing machine including, in combination, a main frame, a rising and falling coupling frame, a finger bar 'pivotally con nected with said coupling frame in a manner permitting it to be raised to a vertical position, means for raising and lowering said finger bar, said means including an arm pivotally connected with said main frame,

and a link mechanism connecting said arm with said finger bar, a foot lever pivoted upon said frame coaXially with said arm and having a toe portion, and an adjusting screw carried by said arm and engageable with said toe portion,

21. A mowing machine including, in .303 binatiQll a m f m a us n a?! tall es coupling frame,-a finger bar pivotally connected with said coupling frame in a manner'permitting it to be raised to a vertical position," means for raising and lowering s'a'id finger bar, said -means including an arm pivotally' connected. with said main frame,a'nd a link mechanism connecting said arm with said finger bar, a swinging block carried by said arm, a hand lever pivotally connected with said main frame and having a toe member engageable with said swinging block. I V

"22. A mowing machine including, in combination, amain frame, a rising and falling coupling frame, a finger bar pivotally connected with said coupling frame in a manner permitting it to be raised to a vertical )osition means for raisin and lowerin said I finger bar, said means including a toothed sector carried by said main frame, a hand lever pivotally mounted upon said sector, a springpressed sliding detent carried by said lever and adapted to engage with said toothed sector, and a swinging bell crank lever carried by said sector and engageable with said detent when said lever has reached the limit of its rearward movement, and means for operating said bell crank lever.

A mowing machine including, in combination, a main frame, a rising and falling coupling frame, a finger bar pivotally connected with said coupling frame in a man ner permitting it to be raised to a'vertical position, means for raising and lowering said finger bar, said means including .a toothed sector carried by said main frame,

- an arm pivotally mounted upon said sector,

and a link mechanism connecting said arm withsaid finger bar, a hand lever pivotally mounted upon said sector and provided with a sliding detent adapted to engage with said.

toothed sector, said hand lever adapted to engage with said arm, a foot lever pivotally mounted upon said sector and having -a toe member adapted to engage with said arm, a

swinging bell crank lever carried by said sector, having one arm thereof engageable with said detent whenIsaid hand leverhas reached the limit of its rearward movement, and the remaining arm of said bell crank lever engageable with said foot lever.

24:. A mowing machine including, in combination, a main frame, a rising and falling coupling frame, a coupling yoke carried by said coupling frame, a finger bar pivotally connected with said yoke in a manner permitting it torise to a vertical position, means for raising and lowering said finger bar, said means including a hand and foot lever mechanism carried by said main frame, a link mechanism connecting said lever mechanism with said finger bar, said link mech anism including a swinging link pivotally mounted upon said coupling yoke, a fulcrum member pivotally connected with said link,

, ends therjeof pivotally connected therewith,

link members upon opposite sides of said fulcrum member and having the "adjacent the opposite ends of said link members being connected with said hand lever mechanism and said finger bar, respectively.

25. Ajmowing machine including, in composed angular surfaces, link members arranged upon opposite sides of-said fulcrum member and having the adjacent ends thereof pivotally connected therewith, the opposite ends of said link members being con nected with said hand lever mechanism and said finger bar, respectively, and said link members engaging with said angular surfaces during ment. v H v 26. In a mowing machine, a main frame, a coupling frame, a finger bar, and means for elevating said coupling frame and for raising said finger bar into a vertical position, said means including operatingfmechanism and connections between the finger bar, the coupling frame and said operating mecha part of their operative move anism,;wl1ereby the coupling frame is held' in raised position independently of the connections connected to said finger bar when the latter is 1n avertlcal position.

727. Ina mowing machine, a main frame,

a coupling frame, a finger bar, means for, lifting said coupling frame and for raising saidfinger bar into a vertical position including operating mechanism, and connec-.

tions between said operating mechanism and coupling frame and said coupling frame and finger bar whereby the coupling frame is held in raised position independently of the connections between the coupling frame and Copies of this patent may be obtained for V 1,240,3oi

finger bar when the latter isin a vertical po-.' sition and While said baris being unfolded:

28. In a mowing machine, a frame, a coupling frame pivotally connected thereto,a

shoe "pivotally mounted on said coupling frame, a finger bar carried, on said shoe,'alifting lever pivotally mounted .on said frame, a link pivotally mounted onsaid shoe at a point below and. on the grassward;

side of the pivot of said shoe and extending upwardly and stubblewardly from its pivot, a gagging member pivotally mounted on said coupling frame, link connections intermediate said gagging member and the. upper end of sa d pivoted link, and link connec gagging member and tions intermediate said said llftlnglever. V

29. In a mowing machine, a frame, a

coupling frame pivotally connected thereto,

a shoe pivoted on said coupling frame having an upstanding shoulder, fingerbar carried by said shoe, an; upstanding link pivotally connected to said shoe at one side of the pivot thereof and engageable with said shoulder at a point intermediate the ends of the link when the cutter bar is in operative position, a swinging gagging member pivoted on said coupling frame, a link connection intermediate. said gagging member and the upper end of said link, a lifting lever-pivotally mounted on said frame, and operative connections between said lifting lever andsaid link connections. 7

30. In a mowing machine, a frame,a coupling frame pivotally connected thereto, a

shoe pivoted on said coupling frame, afinger bar carried by said shoe, anupwardly and,

stubblewardly extending link nivotedto said shoe on thegrassward side of the shoe pivot, a plurality of pivoted links connected to the upper end of said. link and having their ,pivotsnormally in alinement, a lifting lever pivotally mounted on said frame, and operative connectionsbetween said lifting lever and said link mechanismfor depressing the stubbleward linkof said plurality of links and forming a toggle connection when the bar is in vertical position;

CHARLES PEARSON. Witnesses: i

r RAY PATTTSON, c .7 FRANK A. ZABrLKA.

five ce nts each, by addressing the Goinmissibner of latents, I Washington, D. 0; 

